Tuesday 26 November 2024, Ipswich Town Under 17s 1 Cambridge United Under 17s 5 - PDL Under 17 Group cup game, Needham Market FC
Another poor display by the Ipswich Academy team, three down at the break, did pull one back after 86 minutes only for Cambridge to score two further goals in the last few minutes!
Sunny but windy, it looked like it would finish 0-0, mainly down to good goalkeeping by both keepers but the home team broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute, close range header after keeper had misjudged the cross from an in-swinging corner.
Old school 3G- looking almost black from amount of rubber pellets, hard standing spectator area inside the cage on one side.
Complex also has grass pitches, and a veterans game was kicking off at 1230 ( time changed from 2pm due to Ipswich being at home.)
Good first 30 minutes, chances at both ends and then Ipswich took the lead after 28 minutes. Then it was all Peterborough!!
Back on level terms after 32 minutes then in front after 37 minutes.
Posh continued to dominate in the second half, with a great solo dribble and finish making it 3-1 after 60 minutes then they added a 4th direct from a free lick on 71 minutes.
A caged G4 pitch, on the edge of one of the new housing developments, some grass pitches close by, small car park but an impressive changing room/community centre attached to the cage, which has a café- and they sold Bovril! Also attached is lawn bowls green. The cage has hardstanding spectator area on one side of the pitch, almost 3/4 of the length of the pitch.
Cambridge started the day on top of the division, this team is part of a partnership between Cambridge United and Cambridge Regional College and they had 5 teams playing today at various venues. This, I think is their senior team.
You can tell this is a level or two behind Academy football but still some decent skill on show on what was a very competitive game, Cambridge dominating the first 20 minutes and going one up after 23 minutes, but a soft penalty on 38 minutes let Watford back in the game and they took the lead just before the break after the home keeper just seemed to stand and watch a shot go in.
Second half and Watford were on top and they added a third goal, Cambridge got one back but never looked like they were going to get back on terms. Game got a bit feisty at the end with a player from each side being booked.
Saturday 16 November 2024, Harrogate Town 2 Chesterfield 1 - League 2, Wetherby Road
Slowly getting closer to the 92 - bad journey so arrived with 15 minutes to spare, impressed by amount of helpful stewards, ground is quirky with 8 different stands!
Chesterfield have some of best players in this league and dominated possession in the first half but struggled to get a shot on target and it was Harrogate who got closest when they hit the bar.
Second half- and obvious that Harrogate had realised taht Chesterfield were struggling to hurt them, so the home team were more attack minded this half and took the lead after a great free kick hit the post and a home midfielder was first to react to slam the goal in.
Paul Cook had seen enough and made a mass substitution, and one of those who came on, scored with his first touch. Many may have thought Chesterfield would now push on for the win, but it was Harrogate who scored again - disallowed (off side) but then they got a deserved winner at start of injury time.
First half saw Ipswich have slightly more of the ball but never really threatening the visitors keeper, whilst Bournemouth took the one real chance they made to lead by the one goal at the break.
Second half started and a mix up at the back almost gifted Bournemouth a second goal, after that it was all Ipswich but again never really troubling the keeper, with most shots from distance. Bournemouth then created just their second chance of the half and doubled their lead. Ipswich then got the best goal of the game, Morgan finishing a good move with low shot.
Then the ref blew up due to a head injury to a Bournemouth player, spoke to the lino and booked an Ipswich player, five minutes later he books the same player again and Ipswich down to 10 men. Bournemouth see the game out even with 10 men Town having most of the play.
